Nebraska Colloquium lectures to open campus dialogue on the 'Silk Road'

Released on 08/27/2009, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln

WHEN: Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009, through Apr. 6, 2010

WHERE: Nebraska Union Auditorium, 1400 R Street

Lincoln, Neb., August 27th, 2009 —

The Nebraska Colloquium at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is designed to engage the entire UNL community in thoughtful discussion of issues of overriding importance. Adopting the theme for the 2009-10 E.N. Thompson Forum on Global Issues, this year's Nebraska Colloquium will focus on "The Silk Road."

A schedule of lectures has been developed by campus units complementing the Thompson Forum speakers (http://enthompson.unl.edu), notably the Honors Forum series of UNL faculty talks. The full schedule of lectures and additional information about opportunities to participate in the conversation are available on the colloquium Web site, http://nebcolloquium.unl.edu.

The goal of the colloquium is to raise the level of intellectual discourse among UNL students, faculty and staff under the framework of a campuswide theme that serves as an organizing mechanism for unit activities and events that contribute to the theme.

Under the leadership of honors program director Patrice Berger, the University Honors Program will host a series of Honors Forum talks as part of the Nebraska Colloquium to complement the Thompson Forum theme, "Encountering China." Each Honors Forum talk will feature a UNL faculty member.

The campus community is invited to participate in these forums and to contribute to a campuswide discussion. Information about related activities, events or symposia can be submitted to Rita Kean, dean of undergraduate studies at rkean1@unl.edu.

The idea of a campuswide colloquium was generated by the 2003 Transitions to University Task Force. In establishing the Nebraska Colloquium in 2007, the Office of Undergraduate Studies' goal was to create an intellectual community that engages students, faculty, and the larger community in conversations around a common theme, resulting in an exchange of ideas and reflections from which all will profit.

The schedule of Honors Forum talks follows. The talks are free and open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., unless otherwise noted.

Sept. 15, noon-1 p.m. -- "Fueled by Silk: Crazy Quilt Mania," Patricia Crews, Willa Cather professor and professor of textiles, and director of the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. International Quilt Study Center and Museum, 1523 N. 33rd St.

Sept. 24 -- "China's Rise: A Historical Perspective," Parks Coble, James Sellers professor of history.

Oct. 12 -- "State Building and Ethnic Conflict in Xinjiang," Andrew Wedeman, associate professor of political science.

Oct. 28 -- "After Genghis Khan: The Mongols and the Medieval Eurasian Trade Routes," Jessica Coope, associate professor of history.

Nov. 17 -- "The China We Saw in June 2009," Patrice McMahon, associate professor of political science, and her class of UNL student travelers to China.

Dec 3 -- "The Silk Road and the Migration of Artistic Ideas," Peter Pinnell, Hixson-Lied professor of ceramics, art and art history.

Jan. 21 -- "Lamas and Cadres: The Status of Tibet," Wedeman.

Feb 4 -- "Binding Threads: Weaving Cloth and People Together in India," Wendy Weiss, professor of textiles, clothing and design.

Feb. 18 -- "Buddhist Approaches to Enlightenment," Yaroslav Komarovski, assistant professor of classics and religious studies.

March 2 -- "The Silk Road: A Complex Region," Wayne Drummond, dean and professor of architecture.

March 25 -- "Silk Road Economic Legacies in China and Central Asia," John Anderson, Baird family professor of economics and interim dean, College of Business Administration.

April 6 -- "China's Economic Miracle and Future Challenges," Sang Lee, university eminent scholar, FirstTier Bank distinguished professor and chair, Department of Management.

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